THE HUSBANDRY OF THE CANE 135 



No weight of cane was recorded. 



But other experiments, on record elsewhere, give invariably very different 

 results. In very detailed experiments in the Hawaiian Islands under a 

 variety of conditions Eckart' found that untrashed cane gave both a higher 

 yield and a sweeter and purer juice. 



Wrapping.^ — This process, the reverse of trashing, seems to be confined 

 to certain portions of southern India, where in some parts the dead leaves 

 are wrapped round the cane. It is intended partly as a protection against 

 jackals and partly to diminish rooting and sprouting habits. 



Tying up. — In Java it is customary to tie together the upper parts of 

 the canes in different rows to keep them from " lodging " or lying down on 

 the ground. 



Weed Destruction by Spraying. *• — Eckart, at the suggestion of Agee, 

 has put into operation at the Olaa plantation in the Hawaiian Islands a 

 system of weed destruction based on the use of arsenical sprays. The material 

 used is thus prepared : — 20 lbs. of arsenious acid, 4-5 lbs. of caustic soda, 

 and 10 U.S. gallons of water are boiled for 10-15 minutes ; 15 gallons of 

 this stock solution are diluted to 600 gallons, which is used as the spraying 

 mixture. Of this material from 50 to 75 gallons are required to destroy 

 the weeds on one acre, the total cost for labour and chemicals amounting 

 to 65 cents per acre. In applying the spray the cane itself is protected from 

 damage by its coating of wax, and the small quantity, six to seven lbs., 

 of arsenic that finds its way to the soil is believed to be negligible and to be 

 fixed in an insoluble state by the ferric oxide normally present. The pro- 

 cess does not appear to have extended. 



Paper Mulches.^" — Eckart has also introduced a second radical departure 

 in cane agriculture. He uses surplus bagasse as a source of paper which is 

 made on the plantation. The paper is laid in strips both on the cane row 

 and on the space between the cane row, and is intended to serve two purposes : 

 I. The prevention of the growth of weeds, which cannot penetrate the paper, 

 the cane shoots being able to do so. 2. The formation of nitrate beds between 

 the rows where, owing to the increased temperature and to the absence of 

 light, nitrogenous organic matter in the soil will be rapidly converted into 

 nitrates by the action of the soil bacteria. 



Cutting Back. — The flowering season in the Hawaiian Islands is during 

 the months of November and December. Cane that has been cut early 

 in the year will flower that same year and will have to be harvested after 

 a twelve months' growth ; such cane is termed short ratoons. By allowing 

 such cane to grow till June and then cutting it back, it can be carried over the 

 flowering season of that year and will flower in the November of the following 

 year, thus giving a 17 to 18 months' period of growth from the time it was cut 

 back till it flowers, and a total period of growth of not less than two years by 

 the time it is harvested. Such cane is called long ratoons. 



Influence of Arrowing on the Cane. — Arrowing marks the end of the 



vegetative period of the growing cane. It has been thought that arrowing 

 has an influence on the sugar content of the cane ; but definite experiments 



